tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post8749641798102901341..comments2018-05-22T23:59:13.801-07:00Comments on HARDCORE ZEN: TOKYO, TYPHOONS and ZENBrad Warnerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13273179722564495744noreply@blogger.comBlogger144125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-50310638396925542972016-11-29T03:33:31.521-08:002016-11-29T03:33:31.521-08:00Anybody else wants a FREE MC DONALD&#39;S GIFTCARD...Anybody else wants a <a href="http://gift.syntaxlinks.com/r/McDonaldsGiftcard" rel="nofollow"><b>FREE MC DONALD&#39;S GIFTCARD</b></a>?Bloggerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07287821785570247118noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-61965851011431420282008-09-23T22:25:00.000-07:002008-09-23T22:25:00.000-07:00koudelka!great to see you back, man.How are things...koudelka!<BR/>great to see you back, man.<BR/>How are things in NY? (you still there?)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-37013488936133555262008-09-23T12:50:00.000-07:002008-09-23T12:50:00.000-07:00Guys, an in-person debate doesn't mean shit. Corre...Guys, an in-person debate doesn't mean shit. Correctly explaining and justifying a claim can take a lot of time and work and is probably better done in a long form.<BR/><BR/>I've taken one of these Big Mind sessions, and it really is complete horse shit. You sit in a chair and imbalance the shit out of your mind to experience your idea of enlightenment and further encourage delusions. I feel it was best summed up by a guy I was talking to afterwards, "dude, I got some great visuals off that stuff, it was like lsd but easier to find!"<BR/><BR/>It's not real practice, it's fucking dangerous appeasement for a market of fast-paced people who are willing to slap down cash for a quick fix. Go ahead and blow your minds and sink deep into nirvana, you marks.<BR/><BR/>If you bust open your issues all at once, you will not be able to handle it. One thing at a time, or you wont have a framework to understand your experiences, you will never know real stability and appreciation.Koudelkahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14862753644455613567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-20946270188006770752008-09-23T07:03:00.000-07:002008-09-23T07:03:00.000-07:00bkaaaw! bkawww!bkaaaw! bkawww!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-37392996104884008252008-09-23T06:30:00.000-07:002008-09-23T06:30:00.000-07:00I haven't quoted Thomas Merton in years, but this ...I haven't quoted Thomas Merton in years, but this quote seems apt:<BR/><BR/><I>Do you then approach the study of Zen with the idea that there is something to be gained by it? This question is not intended as an implicit accusation. But it </I>is<I>, nevertheless, a serious question. Where there is a lot of fuss about "spirituality," "Enlightenment," or just "turning on" it is often because there are vultures hovering around a corpse. This hovering, this circling, this descending, this celebration of victory is not what is meant by the Study of Zen -- even though they might be highly useful exercises in other contexts. And they enrich the Birds of Appetite. Zen enriches no one. There is no body to be found. The birds may come and circle for a while in the place where it is thought to be. But they soon go elsewhere. When they are gone, the "nothing" the "no-body" that was there, suddenly appears. That is Zen. It was there all the time but the scavengers missed it, because it was not their kind of prey.</I>Mumonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01116967568502451788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-79526219943131378002008-09-23T05:05:00.000-07:002008-09-23T05:05:00.000-07:00Climbers my ass. Dickheads capitalizing on the ign...Climbers my ass. Dickheads capitalizing on the ignorance of the public. Poopy heads for real.fourthnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-34612792319509677412008-09-23T03:32:00.000-07:002008-09-23T03:32:00.000-07:00Re: the GURU WARS!!! spiritual sideshow.Hmmmm. Cul...Re: the GURU WARS!!! spiritual sideshow.<BR/><BR/>Hmmmm. Cults, yes.<BR/><BR/>I notice the first 'voices' that Genpo 'deals with' in the expensive Big Mind process are "The Skeptic" and "The Protector".<BR/><BR/>It is common for therapists to need a level of trust with the client so that positive suggestions may 'take root' (and all that Big Mind is is a type of suggestion therapy... if even that), but I think that the sums of money involved in Big Mind, and the religious/cult appearance and content within this movement (with adored 'leader' etc) mean that we can't just look at this as merely another harmless "therapy" scam/fad. <BR/><BR/>I agree Brad could have made a much better, more balanced/informed, argument against Big Mind. <BR/><BR/>He's not my teacher but if you're going to wander around looking for a teacher that you agree with on everything then you might be a while... or the down side of that is that you'll meet a teacher who won't criticise or challenge you, who will pander to every one of your 'spiritual needs' or, in other words, who will manipulate you using yourself.<BR/><BR/>The teaching is a practice that we must carry out our self. Let's not put the cart before the horse... or maybe 'the boat before the rower' is a more appropriate turn of phrase in this context.<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>Harry.Harryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05168631752214481563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-64018296138875746352008-09-23T02:16:00.000-07:002008-09-23T02:16:00.000-07:00Brad bull-shitting in his "its own okay when I poi...Brad bull-shitting in his "its own okay when I point a finger, not when others point a finger at me " mode<BR/><BR/><B>Not to belabor the point on the precepts. But there's two really key things I want to say. The first is that the precepts are only to be used as a guide to gauge our own behavior — not the behavior of others. I said this before but I cannot stress it enough.<BR/><BR/>When the precepts are used to judge the behavior of others we're back into the same sick game every religion plays where we are the morally righteous and the unbelievers should change their ways. Buddhists must never be like that.</B><BR/><BR/>versus<BR/><BR/><B>The comments about the sixth and seventh precepts deserve a little discussion, though. These are the precepts telling us not to criticize others (or “other Buddhists” as it is sometimes given) or to be proud of ourselves and slander others. ---<BR/><BR/>If we don’t criticize these things because we fear we may violate the precepts we’re doing a terrible disservice to people who want to know what real Buddhism actually is.</B><BR/><BR/>Sometimes there is so much bullshit piled up in all directions, even he can't keep track or make clever excuses fast enough (he'll try). <BR/><BR/>SFZC is very good. Many good teachers there. Do not let this place or this particular 'teacher' put you off Zen Practice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-40946296196743104392008-09-23T02:14:00.000-07:002008-09-23T02:14:00.000-07:00And of course I'm not immune to the same things, a...And of course I'm not immune to the same things, and this is a matter for me to deal with in my own practice.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03635409886545725801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-52079506856412393242008-09-23T01:35:00.000-07:002008-09-23T01:35:00.000-07:00More wisdom from Brad:A certain segment of the aud...More wisdom from Brad:<BR/><BR/><I>A certain segment of the audience that reads what I write assumes I’m just a seething bowl of anger. I’m really not. But I guess I can understand why people think I am. They see a sentence like <B>“Genpo Roshi is a useless piece of shit and his Big Mind® process is a scam,”</B> to take a recent example, and they think, “Gosh. The only time I would call someone a useless piece of shit and say his life’s work was a scam would be if I was totally enraged.” So they read their own emotional state into what I say and make assumptions accordingly.</I><BR/><BR/>Brad holds those who have a view that doesn't conform to his(especially an apparently competing one) with contempt. This is strong ego-identification and I think it is a real problem for Brad. It is for all of us, but we can see how attached he is to his beliefs. He's even in denial about anger. Zen is not just about putting in the hours sitting on a cushion and thinking about what a jerk Genpo Roshi is. Zen is about the process of getting over that stuff and just seeing things 'as they are'. That's how I see it anyway.<BR/><BR/>Yes we need to be honest with ourselves about our true feelings but that's not the same as projecting it outwards without any insight or control.<BR/><BR/>I can see some value in constructive criticism. But I think it has to be handled carefully.<BR/><BR/>I hear the SFZC is very good.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03635409886545725801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-68240283883083475952008-09-23T01:18:00.000-07:002008-09-23T01:18:00.000-07:00If Buddhism is a philosophy of action, then if you...<I>If Buddhism is a philosophy of action, then if your behavior is Clown-like, you are a clown.<BR/><BR/>If you swindle money in a slimy fashion, then you are slimy.</I><BR/><BR/>No. This is projection of value judgements onto the external world. In reality there are no 'clowns' and no 'slimys'. Our apparent perception of them is our own judgements externalised.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03635409886545725801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-52558306673740390442008-09-23T00:32:00.000-07:002008-09-23T00:32:00.000-07:00Who has read Eckhart Tolles stuff?I know that when...Who has read Eckhart Tolles stuff?<BR/><BR/>I know that when someone criticises another, their ego inflates. Thats why people feel good about pointing the finger and all that. Its all authoritarian bullshit.Alphonzenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13096955318568614553noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-38722516263732690052008-09-23T00:28:00.000-07:002008-09-23T00:28:00.000-07:00If Buddhism is a philosophy of action, then if you...If Buddhism is a philosophy of action, then if your behavior is Clown-like, you are a clown.<BR/><BR/>If you swindle money in a slimy fashion, then you are slimy.<BR/><BR/>I don't know how to describe Ken Wilbur's little speech about Genpo on that website, other than to remind Ken that no one looks good in brown lipstick.<BR/><BR/>I don't know Genpo or Kenny. Maybe they think they are doing their best. Maybe they are right, maybe they are wrong. If they aren't doing their best, then it's a nice thing to do to point it out so they don't hurt others, and inevitably, themselves in the process.<BR/><BR/>There is no Genpo outside his actions. If he were to stop his clownery and give the money back to those he has swindled, he would no longer be a clown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-49069736204126963012008-09-22T23:20:00.000-07:002008-09-22T23:20:00.000-07:00Well there you have it and thank you for scroungin...Well there you have it and thank you for scrounging up the facts.<BR/><BR/>I absolutely agree in calling Brad on it. I'm all for opinions....<BR/>these aren't opinions, just trash talk. Shame on you Brad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-33867951219020789752008-09-22T22:33:00.000-07:002008-09-22T22:33:00.000-07:00"Would someone please set the record straight?I do..."Would someone please set the record straight?<BR/><BR/>I do not remember, either in print or verbally Brad ever saying anything negative about Gempo, just about BigMind(TM).<BR/><BR/>Please someone correct me if I am wrong."<BR/><BR/>You are wrong.<BR/>See excerpts below from Brad's commentary:<BR/><BR/>"This is, of course, pure horseshit. <B>Clowns like these</B> can con folks into parting with large sums of money — there’s a $150 “suggested donation” to attend a Big Mind™ seminar — to hear them spout drivel like this because there is so little understanding of what kensho or satori — Enlightenment, in other words — actually is."<BR/><BR/>"If you think Enlightenment is something someone can give you in a big hurry for $150, you deserve your <B>Genpo Roshis and their slimy ilk.</B>"<BR/><BR/>"Of course, I’m sure <B>Genpo and his butt-buddy Ken Wilber</B> will end up on Oprah before then."mountaintop_yetinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-1843471440395730272008-09-22T20:20:00.000-07:002008-09-22T20:20:00.000-07:00If Bodhidarma had come up with a many voices routi...If Bodhidarma had come up with a many voices routine instead of facing a wall for 9 years zen as handed down, as is, and will be eternally available to us might not have stood the test of time.<BR/><BR/>Wall gazing is not a fad.<BR/><BR/>BigMind process.......well, let's see how it stands the test of time--like 2500 years + Ok, I'll give it 5 years, does that sound fair enough?<BR/>Like a glow in the dark zafu that heats up your coffee from the transferred heat from your hiney, I just don't think it will be around. <BR/>That doesn't make it wrong, or wrong wrong. It just will make it gone.....gonegone. (with homage to Patti Smith).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-37331548556902459602008-09-22T20:09:00.000-07:002008-09-22T20:09:00.000-07:00mountaintop_yeti said: Brad's zen is similar in...mountaintop_yeti said:<BR/><BR/> <B> Brad's zen is similar in many ways to certain japanese buddhist cults (that shall go unnamed) that believe theirs is the only True Way and denigrate all other sects. I've always found such claims to be transparently based in ego-identification with the group. Fundamentalist christian and muslim sects share this same characteristic. This divisive, exclusivist, triumphalist approach is nauseating in whatever form it takes.</B><BR/><BR/>Well, Jundo did say:<BR/><BR/><B>Dogen Sangha began to demonstrate all the little internal diseases of any cult, but with one saving grace ... which is that its members were so disorganized, and pulling in so many separate directions, that it could never get itself sufficiently cohesive and organized to be a cult. Thank Buddha! I call it the "cult that might of been" or better "the cult that couldn't shoot straight".</B>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-69772094491427385152008-09-22T19:55:00.000-07:002008-09-22T19:55:00.000-07:00Well well wellwe do live in a very interesting age...Well well well<BR/>we do live in a very interesting age. We must all politely nod and smile at naked emperors 'n such.<BR/>Oprah got in trouble over the Madcow boy stuff, and no one can speak disparagingly about broccoli...<BR/>The interest groups will come after you and sue you for all you're worth.<BR/>Good thing Brad isn't worth anything.<BR/>Otherwise BigMind might want some chump change (or should that be chimp change) from folks speaking 'disparagingly' about the multivoice BigMind 'invention/discovery' by Mr. Merzel.<BR/>These trademark things are getting into slippery slope places. 'Selling the Dharma' is after all, a sell out of the dharma and does disservice. Sure people can go to one day or half-day or multiday retreats with the focus on this 'new technique discovered by Gempo.' Sell it? no.<BR/>The zen hermit who 'invented' the kyosaku didn't trademark it and start up a kyosaku--making instructional workshop for BigStick(TM). <BR/>I'm sorry.<BR/>This blend of psych seminar, group voice dialogue, and zen does seem to be responded to by people who actually believe you can buy a self with things.<BR/>It makes me very very sad.<BR/>Of course anyone coming to zen is curious, curious curious curious about this 'enlightenment' what, what, what could it be, WHAT IS IT LIKE?<BR/>curiousity gets sharpened, intensified, it gets dulled with sheer boredom it strangulates itself. It's got roots that send up fresh vigorous green shoots.<BR/>You pluck its leaves and drink the tea.<BR/>At kinhin you take a leak.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-51234625966662705052008-09-22T19:04:00.000-07:002008-09-22T19:04:00.000-07:00"If she said: stay if you want, go if you want. Ei..."If she said: stay if you want, go if you want. Either way is fine but make sure you don't go to this Genpo guy because he just wants to get your money and his whole thing is a bunch of crap and it is not real buddhism anyway ... I would have probably run away as fast as I could."<BR/><BR/>I agree. My teacher took the same approach as you describe without criticizing other paths. This is a point Brad doesn't seem to get. It is possible for a path to be wrong for particular person without being 'wrong'. It is possible for it to be right for some individuals without being 'the only true way'. Brad's zen is similar in many ways to certain japanese buddhist cults (that shall go unnamed) that believe theirs is the only True Way and denigrate all other sects. I've always found such claims to be transparently based in ego-identification with the group. Fundamentalist christian and muslim sects share this same characteristic. This divisive, exclusivist, triumphalist approach is nauseating in whatever form it takes.mountaintop_yetinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-68164506619543089052008-09-22T16:21:00.000-07:002008-09-22T16:21:00.000-07:00Could've been worse: it might have been a cock pup...Could've been worse: it might have been a cock puppet:<BR/><BR/>http://www.puppetryofthepenis.com/<BR/><BR/>Regards,<BR/><BR/>H.Harryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05168631752214481563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-68429477426155440672008-09-22T16:20:00.000-07:002008-09-22T16:20:00.000-07:00Maybe that was just a coincidence?:-))H.Maybe that was just a coincidence?<BR/><BR/>:-))<BR/><BR/>H.Harryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05168631752214481563noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-29817407808935430042008-09-22T15:47:00.000-07:002008-09-22T15:47:00.000-07:00hmmm... does having a conversation with a sock pup...hmmm... does having a conversation with a sock puppet named 'gempo roshi' count?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-41897049061545520672008-09-22T15:34:00.000-07:002008-09-22T15:34:00.000-07:00"I do not remember, either in print or verbally Br..."I do not remember, either in print or verbally Brad ever saying anything negative about Gempo, just about BigMind(TM)."<BR/><BR/>I can't be bothered to find out if this is true or not but I am a little bit certain that it is.<BR/><BR/>Justin?Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00243378635373046995noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-52478379550227124402008-09-22T13:52:00.000-07:002008-09-22T13:52:00.000-07:00It's all just a load of ego identification.It's all just a load of ego identification.Justinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03635409886545725801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17340756.post-26559240664789002152008-09-22T13:27:00.000-07:002008-09-22T13:27:00.000-07:00There are countless dharmas, but there is no one t...There are countless dharmas, but there is no one true dharma. Isn't that buddhism 101?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com